Truck



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY NICHLESS, OF BAILEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,006, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application filed April 22, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTHONY NIOHLESS, a citizen of the i United States,residing at Baileyville, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trucks, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in trucks and itconsists in the peculiar construction of a warehouse and store truckhaving the frame constructed'of a single piece of pipe bent into atapering U shape, with means whereby it may be applied as abarrel-truck, bag-truck, or stove or warehouse truck.

This invention further consists in the peculiar construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts, as more fullyhereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of my improvedtruck, showing it standing up when out of use. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical section through one arm of the frame and the base thereof. Fig.3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, showing the truck when usedfor handling barrels. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the truck, showingthe detachable caster applied to the upper end of the frame for use as astove or bag truck. Fig. 5 isa cross-section on line 00 m in Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the base of the truck, showingthe apron applied for use in handling bags.

A is the axle, preferably square in cross-section, with suitable roundedjournals formed at the ends, upon which are journaled the wheels B. Ateach end of the axle near the wheel are the blocks 0, upon which restthe lower ends of the frame D. This frame is made of a single piece ofpipe bent at the middle into a tapered U-shaped form, widest at thebase, and it is secured to the axle by means of bolts E, passing throughblocks 0, the frame, the axle, and also through the ends of the bracesF. The bolt also preferably passes through the arms G of the nose-iron.H, which arms rest upon the top of the lower ends of the frame. Thebrace F at its upper end is riveted by means of the rivet I to the lowerends of the frame, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. These rivets alsopreferably secure Serial No. 480,210. (No model.)

the lower end of the cross-braces J which extend to about half-way upthe truck, and are connected to the frame and to a cross-bar K by meansof rivets L.

M is a hook having an eye N slidingly engaging with one arm of the frameand of such a length that the hook may be engaged over the other arm andbe held across the frame by the wedging effect of being pushed downtoward the base of the frame,holding it firmly in the position shown inFig. 1 when it is not desired to be used in handling barrels or boxes.When it is to be used in handling barrels or boxes, the hook may beraised slightly, when the hooked portion will be disengaged from theframe and may be turned to engage over the chine of the barrel, as shownin Fig. 3.

When the truck is desired to be used in handling sacks of flour, &c., Iconstruct a detachable plate 0, having an angular extension P, withslots Q in such angular portion, which slots are adapted to engagebeneath the heads of the bolts Q, passing through the axle. The slots Qare enlarged at one end, so that the plate may be disengaged by movingit laterally, then lifting it off, and may be engaged by shiftingitlaterally and then clamping the bolt upon it. This gives me a broadface for the lower end of the sack, while the crossbraces J and thecross-bar K form a supportfor the end.

When the truck is to be used in handling boxes, stoves, &c., I employ adetachable caster-frame consisting of a cross-bar R, having theupwardly-curved arms S and the caster S centrally secured to the lowerface of the cross-bar. These curved arms S are separated a properdistance so that they will engage over the upper end of the frame and bymovin g them down the frame they will be wedged thereon tightly, so thatthe truck may be laid down parallel with the floor, as shown in Fig. 4,the caster S, supporting one end and the wheels B the other end. The boxor stove thereon may then be pushed along to the desired point.

T are curved guard-plates over the wheels to prevent damage tooverhanging parts of the load upon the truck.

It will be seen that with a very simple construction I obtain a strongtruck capable of handling heavy loads and by means of the detachableportions adapted for nearly any use for which a truck may be desired.

Instead of making my truck of piping, it is evident that it may be madeof angle or T iron, and yet I may obtain the same satisfactory resultsin lightness and strength.

In forming a journal for the wheel I preferably bore the wheel ofgreater diameter than the axle and place a bushing U (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2) into that bore of an interior diameter to just fittheaxle. This soft-metal bushing may turn upon the axle, or in case for anyreason it becomes fastened thereto the wheel maybe turned upon thebushing itself, thereby preventing wear of the axle, and the parts make,practically, an everlasting journal for the wheel.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a truck, the combination of awheeled axle, a frame formed of metal bent intoa tapering U shape, thebent portion forming the handle and having its ends secured to theopposite axle, and a nose-piece secured to the ends of the frame,substantially as described.

2. In a truck, the combination of a wheeled axle, a frame formed of pipebent into a tapering U shape, having its ends secured to blocks on theaxle, the nose-piece secured to the ends of the frame, the braces F, andcross-brace K, substantially as described.

3. In a truck, the combination, with the wheeled axle,-the taperingU-shaped frame gaging one arm of the frame, having its hooked endadapted to engage with the other arm of the frame, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

4. In a truck, the combination, with the wheeled axle, of the U-shapedframe secured thereto, the cross-braces J, and cross-braces K,'and thedetachable apron O, substantially as described.

5. In a truck, the combination of the wheeled axle, the taperingU-shaped frame secured thereto, and a detachable cross-bar adapted to besecured to the upper end of the frame and the caster on the under sideof said cross-bar, substantially as described.

5 6. In a truck, the combination of awheeled axle, a tapering U -shapedframe secured thereto, and the cross-bar R, having the upwardly-hookedends S at each end and the caster S, the hooked ends 5 being adapted toengage over the end of the frame and be wedged thereon, substantially asand for the purpose described.

7. The combination of the axle, the wheels centrally apertured toreceive the axle, and a soft-metal bushing in the wheel to form ajournal-bearing therefor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY NICHLESS.

Witnesses: V

J. BROWN TAYLOR, HORACE S. WEBSTER.

